If you sign up for a morning’s mountain biking on a South Seas island, the last thing you expect is a rogue snowfall, right? Well if you’re on Australia’s southernmost (and only island) state you’d better be ready to literally experience four seasons in one day. Especially if you journey to the summit of Mt Wellington, huddled above the Tasmanian capital of Hobart in spring.
A few weeks back we left downtown Hobart – well worth a look with its collection of raffish harbourside pubs and a great weekend market – in complete sunshine . By the time we’d reached the 1270m summit of Mt Wellington there was a full on snowstorm – probably the first and last time I’ll experience snow in the Land of Oz.
Fifteen minutes later the clouds had parted and Hobart was before us in sunshine. And half an hour later – after a few semi-technical offroad stages – the rain and wind had come rolling back in.
But when a bike ride finishes up at one of the world’s most picturesque old breweries, changeable weather is the last thing you really care about.
Thanks to to Island Cycle Tours for the pic.